Conductive Education—Evidence in Practice
Evaluating Research into the Efficacy of CE
Evidence exists to support the efficacy of CE although more studies are needed (AACPDM; Bourke-Taylor, O'Shea, Gaebler, 2007). This certificate program aims to equip graduates with the skills to conduct research that will add to the evidence base.
Need for Evidence-Based Practice in CE Programs
All practitioners providing an intervention service for children with CP must provide evidence to support the efficacy of their service. CE programs must comply with such standards, and ensure that programs are inclusive of progress occurring within medicine and the health sciences. One such advance is the importance of addressing functional goals within the context that the task is most frequently performed . This would suggest that professionals do need to provide services within the child's natural context, including practitioners working within a CE setting (Bourke-Taylor, O'Shea, Gaebler, 2007).
An example is evident in the change in approach to improve hand use in children with CP. Therapy goals have progressed from reducing impairment in the affected limb to models of practice that focus on increasing participation in specific activities using frequent practice of the exact task requirements in similar contexts. Wider environmental issues have a major influence on the child's participation in activities at home, school, and community. Intervention to reduce task constraints and provide a more enabling environment for children with CP at home demonstrates improvement in the abilities of the child in identified tasks of importance (Bourke-Taylor, O'Shea, Gaebler, 2007).
